At least 10 people were killed in an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) drone strike targeting an armed terror cell in the northern West Bank town of Tamun on Wednesday evening, according to the Palestinian Authority (PA). The IDF confirmed the strike and stated that further details would be provided later.
The attack is part of a major Israeli counterterrorism operation, dubbed Operation Iron Wall, which has focused primarily on Jenin and its refugee camp. On Monday, the operation expanded to Tulkarem. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who visited Jenin earlier on Wednesday, vowed that Israeli forces would remain in the area even after the current offensive ends to prevent the resurgence of terrorism.
Hamas condemned the strike, accusing Israel of carrying out “assassinations” against its fighters and resistance groups. The IDF’s counterterrorism campaign was intensified following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.
Since then, the West Bank has witnessed a surge in violence, with the Palestinian Authority reporting over 800 Palestinian deaths, most of whom were gunmen killed in clashes during Israeli arrest raids. However, casualties have also included civilians and individuals killed in violent protests.
During the same period, 46 people, including Israeli civilians and security forces, have been killed in terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank. Additionally, seven Israeli security personnel have died in clashes with terror groups in the region.
The war has also led to a rise in settler violence against Palestinians and Palestinian attacks on Israelis, further escalating tensions in the occupied territories.